Miles to Go

Rating:
Summary: A warm and affectionate look at a musical giant
Review: I didn't quite know what to expect from this book, since the jacket copy called it "brutally honest (and bound to be controversial)," and I feared a somewhat raw expose. But instead I found this memoir a nostalgic and tender reminiscence of Miles Davis by Chris Murphy, who worked closely with him for many years. While not a total whitewash, it should go a long way toward balancing the "Prince of Darkness" image that so many other writers (and Miles himself) seemed to relish. The book is touching, funny and informative, and while Murphy does discuss incidents in his own life as well, it detracts little from the portrait of Miles he draws. Miles' then-wife, Cicely Tyson, comes off as a harridan, but Miles is always depicted with great affection. This is not the kind of book that Davis fans would refer back to, but it's certainly worth a read as yet another facet of a true artist who never ceases to fascinate lovers of great music.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as I expected
Review: I found this book interesting but too much information was given about the author and his own personal life. I thought this book was supposed to be about Miles Davis. Wrong. The author throws in his own biography while talking about Miles and Murphy's
is not interesting. Quite frankly, I could have done without hearing about this.

Rating:
Summary: A little bit better than I expected
Review: I was hoping to get some insight to Miles' great live band from '73-'75. Instead, we're treated to the author's sexist view of women, his total idolization of Miles and seemingly barely-remembered anecdotes of life with Miles on and off the road. Interspersed are stories of life on the road with David Allen Coe (nope, Miles wasn't playing trumpet in his band), visits with Johnny Cash (ditto), stories of personal drug use and abuse and the bedding of various women. When Murphy calls Orleans (remember those guys? They [stunk]) a "great band" it's time to break out the hula hoops. Sorry, but I'm glad I checked it our from the library rather than blowing 17-plus dollars on this poorly-written book.

Rating:
Summary: "Diary Of A Roadie" is a more appropriate title.
Review: I was hoping to get some insight to Miles' great live band from '73-'75. Instead, we're treated to the author's sexist view of women, his total idolization of Miles and seemingly barely-remembered anecdotes of life with Miles on and off the road. Interspersed are stories of life on the road with David Allen Coe (nope, Miles wasn't playing trumpet in his band), visits with Johnny Cash (ditto), stories of personal drug use and abuse and the bedding of various women. When Murphy calls Orleans (remember those guys? They [stunk]) a "great band" it's time to break out the hula hoops. Sorry, but I'm glad I checked it our from the library rather than blowing 17-plus dollars on this poorly-written book.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother with this one
Review: Okay, I am a bit of a Miles fanatic and hence I bought this book. That said, it is absolutely worthless in terms of insights, anecdotes and information about Miles. Much of the "inside" stories contained here (and there are precious few) have been documented elswhere. What's more, the book is poorly written as well.Don't waste your money. This one won't even make the remainder table.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother with this one
Review: Okay, I am a bit of a Miles fanatic and hence I bought this book. That said, it is absolutely worthless in terms of insights, anecdotes and information about Miles. Much of the "inside" stories contained here (and there are precious few) have been documented elswhere. What's more, the book is poorly written as well.Don't waste your money. This one won't even make the remainder table.

Rating:
Summary: the inside scoop
Review: terrific book for anyone who loves miles. shows a much different picture than miles own book, where he seemed to want you to hate him, for some reason. chris writes like he was sitting next to you on a barstool, over a brew, telling you about his adventures in weirdville. i suggest putting on a pile of miles cd's, and reading this straight through.

Rating:
Summary: A little bit better than I expected
Review: There's hero worship and then there's idolatry. Miles was and still is one of my musical heroes - an almost personal relationship exists with your heroes, even though I never met the man. Even though this book for the most part operates on the level of blind adoration of Miles, those who have been touched by his music, and therefore his personality, are bound to get [drawn] in. So I found myself enjoying all the stories. It's like what Joe Zawinul said about Miles: the greatest conversation piece in 20 years . . . Fortunately, the author doesn't delve too deeply into giving "insight" into the music - there are perhaps others who could do that better, namely some of the musicians who played with Miles. But the author has offered up what I feel to be a sincere and heartful account of his time with Miles, coming from a person whose perspective is not usually heard from - the roadie!